The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-03
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. G., Feb. 26, Is


WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 26, 1887.
But five more working days remain
to Congress, unless that body decide
to work on Sunday. as Congresses have
often done before. This Congress will
probably, however, work O'nights dur
ing the short remaining term of its
life, and this way partially make up
lost time and neglected legislation, 1t
has been the custom of former Presi- |
dents to spend the last few hours of
congressional term at the Capitol, in
order to sign the bills that Congress
may hurry through in its last mo
ments. But President Cleveland it is
said, will not sign bills until he has
had time for their critical examination
Congress has been unOttiicially advis-
ed of this fact and it is quite probable
that some half crooked measures may
fail for lack of the presidential sigma
ture.
Statesmen of both House and Senate
have been tco busy during the past
week to give much attention to the
Question about an extra session, but it
is not improbable that one will be
called. There are pressing questions
that cannot we'll be put aside until the
regular meeting of the fiftieth Con-
gress,
1t is beginning to be very generally
conceded that the Congressional sss
sion ending at noon on the fourth OF
March is all too short for the interests
of the country. 1t might have done
for 1887, when the entire country had
q population inferior to that of the
state of New York and not one tithe
of its wealth. But we have grown
apace in the last hundred years--growp
in almost every thing but the industry
of congressman. They still retain
their stage coach habits and t. additions
Something must be done to get out o.
this. The prolongaion of the session
will be only partial remedy and,
since a day cannot be stretched over
twenty -four hours, and since Con
gressional daily session is only about
five hours per day, interrupted by fire
quent adjournment, endless roll calls,
fiiibustering and long, drawing
speeches, it can be seen hsw all too
little time is left for deliberate. intelli
gent action on national questions
Here en- the very eve of the adjourn
msnt of Congress important bills snch
, as the Legislative, Naval, SundrJ
, civil. Deficiency, Fortifications. Mill
tary Academy, Post Office, District OF
Columbia, and Indian bills have not
vet been placed before the Presidenl
, for his signature.
Bya u vote of 81 to is the Senate de-
= cided that it would be wise to detatcf
the Weather Bureau from tue Army
and place it under the proposed new
: Department for Agriculture and Labo
The decision was adopting the propo
: sition as an amendment to the bill tt
!, raise the present Agricultural Depart
ment to the dignity of an executive
Department. After this had beeI
> done the bill was passed without re
sort to a roll call, The measure hsv
ing already passed the House, viii
now go to a conference com mittee o
members of each branch. 1t is no
certain that the cOnferrees will retail
q the amendment, but it is generally be
Iieved that the Weather Bureau will
:, be taken from the War Department
| l. if in a w "a
:. suggested by the Senate.
n During the debate on the bill MI
r Miller stated that there were man.
serious difficulties in the way of
4 transfer of the Weather Bureau, be
9 cause of the fact among others. tha
those now engaged in that branch ar
v enlisted men and officers of the arm,
b. and all the supplies, instruments, ant
n other material of the bureau are tn
g property of the army. If the confer
}. ence committee can prepare an amend
ment that will reduce these trouble
|. some difficulties to q minimum. o
!, wipe them out altogether, the prOpo
d sition will probably receive goo
!, many more votes than the 81 cast 70
r it already. AS for the special object @
9 the bill, which is to make the com
g missioner of Agriculture a Cabine
9 officer. that has now been agreed t
!. by both Houses, and Congress viii
: hardly let it be killed because of an.
failure to agree about the transfer G
!, the Weather Bureau. Unless tn
n President sees fit to object to the meas
o ure, he will have an opportunity /
It add another TO his present list of ad
T. visers.